Rating: 3.5/5
Synopsis:
Colleen Hoover’s most famous novel has made its way to the big screen. Lily Bloom has just opened up a flower shop in Boston, fulfilling her lifelong dream of doing so. She meets Ryle, a charming neurosurgeon. They begin a relationship filled with passion, but she begins to see concerning tendencies in Ryle resembling that of her father’s. Her first love soon reappears in her life, complicating her dynamic with Ryle. Lily will have to make a difficult choice pertaining to her relationship with Ryle and the future she sees for herself.
Positives:
I’ll admit that “It Ends with Us” isn’t the genre I usually gravitate towards, but the online buzz surrounding the movie garnered some curiosity. The movie does a good job at balancing the comedic moments, romantic tension, and dramatic sequences. The cast does a nice job all around. Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni (who also directs) eat up most of the screen time. Their relationship is at the core of the story so their performances were very important. They do a nice job at maintaining the necessary chemistry to make us believe their story while elevating the tenser scenes at the right moments. Jenny Slate and Brandon Sklenar offer nice supporting performances as well. The character dynamics in the movie were all nicely executed.
The story discusses some very difficult topics as well, specifically pertaining to domestic abuse. Handling this material gently must have been difficult so credit to Baldoni and his team for doing so. The story unfolds in a way where each character feels explored. Before the tension begins and the darker subject matter comes to the forefront, we are introduced to each character’s perspective. This helps the audience understand the motivations, background, and explanation behind everyone in the situation. It really felt like we went on this journey with the characters as time went on. I’m sure fans of the book will enjoy how everything came to life and how carefully the material was handled. The payoff and moral victories are earned and Lily’s vindication felt just.
Negatives:
With any romance movie there may be some corniness involved. I can attest to some of the standard rom-com conveniences applying. But the story stayed pretty grounded for the most part which is good. The dialogue might have been the weakest aspect of the film. Some of the interactions felt clunky and awkward. But that is to be expected within the genre so I won’t hold it against the film too much. The pacing can drag at times as well. Most of the plot moves at a rate that really takes its time (for better and worse). I actually enjoyed seeing most of the story explored in a way that made the difficult subject matter more potent but can understand where audiences might have their patience tested.
Conclusion:
“It Ends with Us” is a polished romance film that addresses complex situations more openly than most. It features some good performances and tells an intricate story. The characters all feel fleshed out to a point where their standing in the story is impactful. But a long runtime and occasionally weak script do linger as the movie goes on. This will definitely resonate with the target audience and I recommend checking it out to those who are interested. But just be aware that there are some sensitive material throughout the story.
